U.S. Forest Service · Angeles National Forest · Wrightwood, CA

Appletree Campground

Nestled in a scenic canyon just off the Big Pines Highway, Apple Tree provides a scenic and relaxing destination for camping, hiking, picnicking and wildlife viewing. Within driving distance of Jackson Lake for easy access to fishing, canoeing, and swimming. Just northwest of the Los Angeles metro area. Visitors enjoy exploring the Angeles Crest Scenic Byway, which offers incredible views of oak thickets, high desert landscapes, chaparral and pine forests.

Open nowReservable · Recreation.gov8 sitesPets okFires ok

More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Appletree CampgroundAppletree Campground IMG2Appletree Campground IMG3Appletree Campground IMG5
Photos courtesy of Mountain High Reunited, Mountain High · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Tent-only8
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

8 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteShadePeople / vehiclesFires
1Partial8 / 2Yes
2Partial8 / 2Yes
3Partial8 / 2Yes
4Partial8 / 2Yes
5Partial8 / 2Yes
6Partial8 / 2Yes
7Partial8 / 2Yes
8Partial8 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

Tent campsites can accommodate eight campers. Remote parking for one vehicle is provided in a shared parking lot a few hundred feet away from the sites. Grills, picnic tables, pit toilets, and drinking water are provided. Firewood can be purchased from the host at nearby Mountain Oak Campground.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonYear-round
ForestAngeles National Forest
BookingMake reservations at www.recreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777. For more information and reservations contact the concessionaire at Mountain High Resort at (760) 316-7828.
FeesThis site is operated by Mountain High Resort. Camping fees, which are set by Mountain High Resort, can be paid on-site or with the campground host at Mt. Oak Campground. A Big Pines Pass from Mountain High Resort is required when parking here.
RulesSee current fire restrictions.

Angeles National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Appletree Campground30°40°50°60°70°January: 4.37 inches of precipitation, 10.5 inches of snowFebruary: 4.93 inches of precipitation, 24.8 inches of snowMarch: 1.85 inches of precipitation, 8.3 inches of snowApril: 0.80 inches of precipitation, 7.2 inches of snowMay: 0.79 inches of precipitation, 1.6 inches of snowJune: 0.08 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 1.06 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.31 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.38 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.21 inches of precipitation, 0.5 inches of snowNovember: 1.14 inches of precipitation, 3.6 inches of snowDecember: 4.14 inches of precipitation, 5.3 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 36.6°F averageFebruary: 36.4°F averageMarch: 41.8°F averageApril: 46.1°F averageMay: 54.0°F averageJune: 61.2°F averageJuly: 67.9°F averageAugust: 66.7°F averageSeptember: 60.6°F averageOctober: 50.5°F averageNovember: 41.8°F averageDecember: 36.0°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 in25 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Wrightwood, 5 miles from the campground at 6,000 feet, station USC00049822 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 21 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 62 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Nearest townWrightwood, California
Coordinates34.3866° N, 117.7134° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Powerboating is not permitted on Jackson Lake, so the setting is peaceful and quiet for swimming, canoeing and fishing.

Supplies & services

RV sales & serviceMajor RV Sales ↗20.2 mi
Outdoor gearREI ↗21.7 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗21.7 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Appletree Campground

Worth a stop

  • The Angeles Crest Highway, part of California State Route 2, is a scenic byway that meanders through oak thickets, chaparral, high desert landscapes and pine tree forests.
  • The ski resort town of Wrightwood is very close by. Restaurants and a disc golf course can be found at the North Resort.
  • Take a hike on the Blue Ridge Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail. The Pacific Crest Trail is an impressive path that starts in Mexico and zigzags its way through Angeles and continues north across California, Oregon and Washington.
  • Visit the Mountain High Downhill Bike Park.
Show all 7

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.9 mi
    Jackson Lake Interpretive
    0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.9 mi
    Lightning Ridge Nature Trail
    0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1 mi
    PCT Grassy Hollow ↗
    4.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_scenic_or_historic
  • 1 mi
    PCT Wright Mt. to Inspiration P ↗
    6.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_scenic_or_historic
  • 1 mi
    Jackson Lake
    2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.1 mi
    Table Mtn Nature
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

Sheep Mountain Wilderness begins about 1.1 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Natural features

Apple Tree Campground sits at an elevation of 6,100 feet in Angeles National Forest. Campsites are shaded with scattered oak trees and Jeffrey pines. Daytime temperatures in the summer are usually in the low 80s and evenings are cool. The Angeles National Forest spans nearly 695,000 acres over most of the San Gabriel Mountain Range in southern California. Vegetation ranges from chaparral and oak at lower elevations to pine forests at higher altitudes. Elevations range from 1,200 to 10,000 feet. The endangered California condor inhabits the forest. The Least Bells vireo and the Southwestern Willow flycatcher are two migratory birds that visitors enjoy spotting in the area. Other local inhabitants include the Arroyo toad, mountain yellow-legged frog, the mountain lion and the two-striped garter snake.

Recreation

Wildlife viewing is a popular activity, as visitors may see bobcats, mountain lions, bears and Nelson bighorn sheep. The lake is stocked with trout and bluegill.

Guidebooks for California

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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Appletree Campground?

Sites at Appletree Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Make reservations at www.recreation.gov or 1-877-444-6777. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Appletree Campground?

This site is operated by Mountain High Resort. Camping fees, which are set by Mountain High Resort, can be paid on-site or with the campground host at Mt. Oak Campground.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Appletree Campground?

Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Appletree Campground open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Year-round.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Appletree Campground have?

8 sites, including 8 tent-only sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Appletree Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Appletree Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Appletree Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. See current fire restrictions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Appletree Campground?

Wildlife viewing is a popular activity, as visitors may see bobcats, mountain lions, bears and Nelson bighorn sheep. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Appletree Campground?

Wrightwood, California. The Angeles Crest Highway, part of California State Route 2, is a scenic byway that meanders through oak thickets, chaparral, high desert landscapes and pine tree forests.

Source: Getting there

What if Appletree Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Peavine Campground (0.4 mi), Lake Campground (0.6 mi), and Mountain Oak (1.1 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby